Mock drafts: Experts target Packers' needs

Wisconsin Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt (42) fires up the crowd during the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Oct. 1, 2016.(Photo: Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

With the NFL scouting combine only a week away, NFL draft talk is starting to pick up steam. (Of course, the true obsessives never stop talking about it, but that’s another story.)

Obviously, NFL draft talk is always accompanied by many, many mock drafts. Some are informative, some are entertaining and the best ones are both. Each week, I’ll try to do a roundup of the best ones and give you their takes on which players they like for the Packers.

Former Bruin Datone Jones and former Trojan Nick Perry are both free agents from Green Bay's 3-4 edge, and the potential of losing both makes pass-rush production a high priority for the Packers. McKinley is a high-effort player who would mesh nicely with the relentless Clay Matthews.

Green Bay adds an athletic linebacker to the defense, as Cunningham has the range to make plays in zone coverage while attacking blockers in the run game as well as any linebacker in the draft class. He has to cut back on the missed tackles, as he’s missed 34 over the last two seasons, but he also led all Power-5 linebackers with 56 solo runs stops in 2016. Cunningham adds much-needed athleticism to the middle of the Green Bay defense.

Taking nothing away from Ty Montgomery, the Packers should be looking to draft some help in the backfield. McCaffrey is a great weapon in the run game and also could be an option for QB Aaron Rodgers in the passing game. With Rodgers, it's simply about finding capable weapons to surround him with. We all know McCaffrey qualifies as one.

Sam Shields was just released, and Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy watched the secondary get smoked repeatedly down the stretch of 2016. Green Bay has to add more talent and depth in the defensive backfield.

Obviously, a few of these mocks will be updated (several times) over the next two months leading up to the draft, and we’ll bring you all the latest each week here at PackersNews.com.